Greeley students write, direct and star in ‘Scarlet Letter’

JOSHUA POLSON/jpolson@greeleytribune.com
Instructor Steven Aguilo-Arbues, left, talks with Frontier Academy student Chibuikem Nwizu, during a brainstorming session in the auditorium of the University/ Frontier Academy campus Wednesday afternoon. Aguilo-Arbues was one of three instructors from the Denver Opera Company that has teamed up with students in the Frontier Academy drama and orchestra program to transform the 1850s classic novel, "The Scarlet Letter," into a musical.

JOSHUA POLSON/jpolson@greeleytribune.com
Frontier Academy student Jordin Johnson sings a solo as she plays Hester Prynne in a brief preview of the drama and orchestra department's musical adaptation of "The Scarlet Letter" Thursday afternoon at the University/ Frontier Academy auditorium. In addition to memorizing lines, students composed the music and wrote the lyrics for the songs they performed.

JOSHUA POLSON/jpolson@greeleytribune.com
Sheets of music, notes, and scripts cover the top of a piano in one of the music rooms in the University/ Frontier Academy auditorium Wednesday afternoon. Students worked on every aspect of the play, from writing dialog to creating the sets.

Frontier Academy “Page to Stage” will present its musical based off of “The Scarlet Letter,” by Nathaniel Hawthorne one time only at 7 p.m., Jan. 24 in the auditorium on the University-Frontier campus, 6530 16th St.

Cost is $5. Children 5 and under are free. All money benefits the drama department at Frontier. To purchase tickets call Sandy Collins at (970) 339-9153 X146.

About Opera Colorado:

Opera Colorado is a three-decades old opera company in Denver. Current performances are “Romeo and Juliet” and “Don Giovanni. ” The company recently announced it was postponing “The Scarlet Letter,” which was scheduled to debut in May until 2015 because of financial troubles.

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It may sound far fetched, but that is exactly what Sandy Collins, the drama and orchestra teacher at Frontier Academy’s high school, did recently.

The result?

“Quite frankly, they have blown my socks off,” said Cherity Koepke, director of education and community programs for Opera Colorado. “I can’t say enough about how impressed I am with the creativity and talent of the kids.”

Koepke and two others from Opera Colorado have spent three afternoons and four, eight-hour days at Frontier over the last couple of weeks helping the group of kids selected for the Page to Stage program as they transform “The Scarlet Letter.”

“The Scarlet Letter” is the story of a young woman who has a child from an adulterous relationship and tries to repent and live a life of dignity.

Page to Stage is a Generation OC grant awarded by Opera Colorado to one high school each year. It covers all the material and training needed to complete the production. However, this year is the first time the grant has covered a full-scale production.

With a little bit of guidance from Opera Colorado, Collins and two other Frontier teachers, and after reading the book, students in grades nine to 12 wrote the script, lyrics and music. They also designed props and created costumes, held auditions and will act and direct the play based off of a novel that — despite some controversy around its use in high schools — is about forgiveness and truth.

In addition to three days after school, Page to Stage also became an e-week class, and there will be three more rehearsals before the final performance.

E-week is a week of school devoted specifically to elective classes that are not offered as curriculum at the Core Knowledge-based school. Ninth- and 10th-graders choose from a selection of classes that range from cooking and sewing to crafts and auto mechanics to band and airplane modeling. The classes are held all day for one week after winter break.

Stage to Page students had to write an essay that highlighted their strengths and explained why they should be chosen. They also needed a teacher’s recommendation.

What Collins didn’t expect was the number of upper classmen ­— who can choose an extra week of vacation over participating in e-week — who would sign up.

“We chose students in a variety of grades, 18 of the 31 kids are juniors and seniors,” Collins said. “We have strong writers, strong actors and strong musicians. It really is an amazing opportunity for both students and teachers. I have been so impressed with the room they have given the kids with creativity and letting them produce this musical.”

Chibuikem Nwizu, a junior who portrays Reverend Dimmesdale, the father of Hester’s child, said he has learned more in a few short days because of the program than he ever imagined.

“I’ve always been interested in creative writing,” Chibuikem said. “But I wasn’t expecting what I got. We were not just able to write, but people actually listened to you and saw something in a different light. I’m excited to see how some of my ideas become something remarkable.”

Annie Sears, also a junior, said she decided to spend her week off at school because there was no way she was passing up this kind of an opportunity.

“I wouldn’t pass up anything ‘stage,’” she said with a laugh. “I’ve been in theater and music and dance since I was like 2. It would kill me if I was not a part of this.”

Both students said the experience has been rewarding. Annie was surprised by how quickly it came together.

“I like how everyone’s ideas are so different, but there has been such a collaboration. There have been no arguments,” Annie said.

Chibuikem was surprised by how they were able to make the novel more entertaining.

“Coming from someone who’s read the book that will put you to sleep just trying to read it,” he said with a laugh, “it turned into a drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat and is amazing.”

Sherrie Peif covers education for The Tribune. Her column runs on Mondays. If you have an idea for a feature, contact Sherrie at (970) 392-5632 or by email at speif@greeleytribune.com.